Take Your MPP to Work 2015 Toolkit

Fall 08

Take Your MPP to Work

2015 Toolkit

158 Pearl Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 1L3 - www.RNAO.ca - 1-800-268-7199 x 214

[Type text] www.RNAO.ca/MPP2015

April 2015

Dear RNAO member,

On behalf of the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) I welcome your participation in RNAO’s 15th annual Take Your MPP to Work™ event. This initiative began in 2001 when the three political party leaders went to work with a registered nurse to see first-hand, the skills and expertise required to provide important health care services to Ontarians. Since that time, it has grown to become an annual, popular political engagement activity for RNAO members and MPPs alike. This on-the-job experience allows politicians to better understand the breadth and depth of nursing practice across diverse practice settings. Having their elected representatives come to work, allows RNAO members to better understand the competing interests MPPs must deal with.

Take Your MPP to Work (TYMTW)™ 2015 begins Nursing Week which runs from May 11th –May 17th. The theme this year is, ―Nurses: With you every step on the way.‖ TYMTW™ will continue until mid-June to allow as many MPPs as possible to participate.

We hope you will join other RNAO members by organizing a visit to your workplace. If your Chapter is already organizing a visit and/or an event, please let your RNAO board member and RNAO head office know. We would be happy to tweet, post to Facebook and post to our Nursing Week website, the date of your visit and pictures from your event. RNAO’s communications department will be pleased to assist you with any media-related requirements. To view our Nursing Week 2015 website, please visit: NURSINGWEEK.RNAO.CA

To help make your event a success, we recommend you read the information contained in this toolkit. We have included practical suggestions/ideas about what to do to create a great site visit for your MPP. We hope you enjoy using this toolkit to plan your TYMTW™ event. Please don’t hesitate to contact Shelley Martel at [email protected]; 1-800-268-7199, x 214; 416-408-5613 should you have any further questions.

This event is a great opportunity to showcase registered nurses and nurse practitioners and the important work we do in our communities!

Warm Regards

Doris Grinspun, RN, MSN, PhD, LLD(hon), O.ONT. Chief Executive Officer Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario

www.RNAO.ca/MPP2015

Table of Contents

Backgrounder – 2015 Take Your MPP to Work™…………………………………………………………1 Important Resources and Who is My MPP?...... 2 Constituency Office Information and Contact Information for MPPs……………………………………...3 Now What? How to Celebrate Take Your MPP To Work™ Event……………………………………….4 Sample Timeline and Check List…………………………………………………………………………...5 Key Steps: Planning a Take Your MPP to Work™ Event...... 6,7

Chapter/Interest Group/workplace worksheet……………………………………………………...... 8,9 Template MPP Invitation……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….10

Draft invitation to your organization's Chief Nursing Officer ...... 11

Press release template...……..…………………..…………………………………………...……………12 Thank-you letter template…………………………………………………………………………………13 Social Media………………………………………………………………………………………………14 Social Media Guidelines…………………………………………………………………………………..15 Sample agenda (one hour visit)………………………………………………………………..…………..16 Sample agenda (two-hour visit)……...... ……………………………………………...... 17

Sample work plan (from Brampton LTC home)…………………………………………………………..18 Taking Photos and Helpful Resources…………………………………………………………………….19 TYMTW™ Media Alert (copy) …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….20

TYMTW™ Event Advertisement (copy)...... 21

TYMTW™ Event Agenda...... 22

Municipal Nursing Week Proclamation (copy)...... 23

www.RNAO.ca/MPP2015

Backgrounder – 2015 Take Your MPP to Work™

What is Take Your MPP to Work™?

This is RNAO’s 15th year organizing Take Your MPP to Work™. In 2001, RNAO initiated this event as part of our Nursing Week celebrations. The idea is for Registered Nurses (RNs) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs) to give on-the- job tours of their diverse workplaces to politicians. These visits can take place in any of the many settings where nurses practice including family homes, nurse practitioner-led clinics, community health centres, family health teams, hospitals, long-term care homes, public health units, post-secondary institutions and in street health settings. Premiers, ministers, leaders of opposition parties, city councillors, MPPs, MPs, and even LHIN representatives can accompany nursing leaders to practice sites across Ontario.

Why this approach? These tours are a window into the working world of nursing and provide politicians with the opportunity to experience and better understand the breadth and depth of what it is that RNs and NPs do. For RNs and NPs, it is an exciting and empowering opportunity to engage in the political process and help MPPs to understand the issues they face. It is also an opportunity for politicians to experience nursing first-hand through the eyes of a nurse. For partner institutions, it is an opportunity to demonstrate nursing programs and services and the benefits of funding them.

Who has participated in the past? This event has grown from the three party leaders in 2001 to MPPs and MPs from across the province. Many chapters and partner organizations have hosted multiple visits over the years.

MPP Bob Bailey-Ontario Early Years Centre MPP Michael Coteau-Toronto Public Health St. Phillips Catholic School, Petrolia 2300 Sheppard Avenue West, Toronto

MPP Cheri DiNovo-Four Villages CHC (Dundas Street site, Toronto)

www.RNAO.ca/MPP2015

Important Resources

Templates and Sample Letters Our Take Your MPP to Work™ 2015 toolkit includes templates and sample letters to help organize your visit. You are welcome to use the templates as they are. All templates are available at www.RNAO.ca/MPP2015 You are also welcome to modify them to reflect the nature of your visit. The 2015 organizing kit includes the following:

 Invitation letter to your MPP  Letter to your Chief Nursing Officer  Template media release  Template thank-you letter  Sample agenda  Sample work plan and checklist

Who is my MPP?

We are thrilled you are organizing a Take Your MPP to Work™ visit! In doing so, it is important to remember you may live in one riding but work in another—this may impact your decision on who to invite to participate. Most MPPs prefer to participate in site visits which occur in their own ridings. As a result, you may have to invite an MPP, other than your own, to accompany you to work for this event.

If you don’t know who your MPP is, please go to the link listed for Elections Ontario below. Insert your home postal code with no spaces in-between. The screen will open to display a small riding map with the name of your constituency. To the right of the map, click on Information on your Member of Provincial Parliament. The new screen shows names of MPPs in alphabetical order on the left and riding names on the right. Click on Riding sort to create an alphabetical list of ridings. The corresponding MPPs will be shown on the left-hand side.

Now that you know who your own MPP is, you will want to know if he/she also represents your workplace. Follow the same process as before by clicking on the website for Elections Ontario and this time, input your workplace postal code. Follow the same steps. The site will provide you with the name of the MPP who represents your workplace. Due to riding boundaries, he/she may well be different from the MPP whose riding you live in. Again, given MPPs usually want to go to participate in a site visit in their own riding, it is the MPP who represents the workplace whom you should consider inviting for TYMTW™.

www.RNAO.ca/MPP2015

Electoral district information

To find out what electoral district you are located in, please go to the Elections Ontario website and enter your postal code. It will provide you with the name of your riding. Here is the link: http://fyed.elections.on.ca/fyed/en/form_page_en.jsp

MPP constituency office information

Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) have at least two offices. One office is located at Queen’s Park in downtown Toronto at the Legislative Assembly. The other (s) is located in the riding itself. For the purposes of TYMTW™, you need to send your invitation to the riding office as it deals with meetings and events which occur in the constituency.

To locate the address of your MPP’s constituency office, please go to the Ontario Legislative Assembly website listed below. On the right hand side is an alphabetical listing of all MPPs. Choose the name of your MPP and click on it. The screen will open to a page like the one shown below. Please note the contact information for the MPP listed under Constituency. You can certainly email your invitation letter but please ensure you have the full mailing address listed on it.

Contact Information for MPPs

Here is the link: http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/members/members_current.do

www.RNAO.ca/MPP2015

Now What?

Now that you have located the contact information for the constituency office for your MPP, we ask that you please read through the kit to find out what steps are involved in organizing a visit. If you have organized a visit previously, welcome back! If it is your first visit, we are delighted that you will be taking this event on at your workplace. This kit contains all the information you need to organize your visit.

Why Two Kits? We have both PDF and Word versions for your convenience. The PDF version may be printed out as a handbook, while the Word version is a format that can be easily amended with template letters to your liking. For instance, this will allow you to copy and paste your RNAO/Chapter logo and/or your electronic signature.

Ideas about how to celebrate Take Your MPP to Work™

 Host a breakfast with your MPP and local staff and go over RNAO’s Key Documents  Host a tour of your local health facility and have your MPP meet with other nurses on the floor  Hold a visit with your MPP and a client  Invite community stakeholders to participate in a tour with your MPP  Have your MPP attend a staff meeting/local chapter or interest group meeting  Invite your MPP to attend a local nursing class to learn about nursing in educational settings  Invite your MPP to attend a local health program and have them participate  Have a new program at your hospital or community clinic? Invite them to the clinic to learn more  Host a lunch and learn and invite your MPP to attend  Invite them to a ceremony at your health facility

www.RNAO.ca/MPP2015

Sample Timeline/Checklist

April 2015 (one month prior):  Contact RNAO head office to obtain a toolkit or view one online at: www.RNAO.ca/MPP2015  Send a letter to your Chief Nursing Executive/Officer or Nursing Professional Practice Lead in your work place (do this before the next step)  Send an invitation letter to your MPP (ensure permission has been granted first from site location)  Confirm actual date of visit with MPP’s office and RNAO head office  Prepare promotional materials (posters/flyers) for your workplace  Schedule a planning meeting with key stakeholders in your workplace (e.g. CNE/ CNO, Nurse Educator, Director of Communications, RNAO Chapter President). Include bio of MPP  Prepare informational letter to all nursing staff in your workplace to encourage participation  Hold a planning meeting with key stakeholders in your workplace (e.g. CNO, Educator, Director of Communications, RNAO Chapter President)  Compile information for handout packages (one for MPP/staff, one for nursing staff)  Book a room for an informal round table discussion

Early May 2015 (one week prior)  Prepare media release with detailed information. Send a draft media release to RNAO’s communications department to review/provide feedback, if necessary  (Communications) Identify key media outlets: local newspaper, radio, television  Prepare/order refreshments  Confirm attendance with MPP’s office/ RNAO head office  If applicable, communications department will issue media release  Please note that some politicians and workplaces may prefer to restrict media. (Please speak with Shelley Martel and the communications department at RNAO if concerned)

Take Your MPP to Work™  Remember refreshments  Welcome by administrator and RN/RNAO member/Introduction to program/ facility  Roundtable discussion o What is my role in the organization? Why do I like working here? o What are the challenges I face in my position? (―a day in the life of a nurse‖) o What are the challenges my workplace is facing? (―a day in the life of the facility‖) o How do these challenges affect patient care? (―a day in the life of a patient or client‖) o What could the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) and MPPs do to improve these challenges? o Describe some innovations and success stories from first -hand knowledge  Facility tour  Opportunity for media questions

www.RNAO.ca/MPP2015

Key Steps: Planning a Take Your MPP to Work™ event

Activities Tasks Resources

Messages to use in recruiting members: List of potential RN contacts:  Short-term project with specific timeframes  RNAO Board Member/Assembly Rep. Mobilizing  Steps well-laid out with resource materials  Chapter/Interest Group Chair members available  Workplace liaisons and  High visibility for your organization and for recruiting  Policy & Political Action and Communication ENOs nursing in your community volunteers  Advanced practice fellowship  Proven track record of success for site  RNAO recognition award winners  Event may have a province-wide impact visits  Nurses in advanced practice roles  Meet (email, teleconference, face to face)

regularly to compare notes, develop strategies, share ideas and success stories. Share resources from head office.

To get commitment of site to participate: List of potential sites:  Written request to Chief Nursing Officer, VP  Best Practice Spotlight Organizations (BPSOs) Confirming Patient Services, Chief Executive Officer or  Workplace award winners a site visit Executive Director (choose one, cc. others on  Programs targeted to high risk populations (i.e. homeless, your letter, also copy Media Relations/Public diabetics). Relations or equivalent dept.)  Consider a range of possible sites across all sectors. E.g.,  Follow up with personal contact within a week some partners organized home care visits with MPPs after  You may wish to ask for written confirmation getting client permission. from site  Template thank you letter  Send thank you letter to site following the event  Keep all records of your communication

www.RNAO.ca/MPP2015

 Issue invitation to MPP – email or fax are fine  List of MPPs

(email is preferable as it helps to re-send it to Template thank you letter for MPP them when you follow up)  Template letter to MPP  Follow up phone call to constituency office Inviting within a week of the letter. This is crucial. MPPs Follow up on a regular basis (every few days until a commitment is made and details are ironed out), elaborating to the MPP’s staff on the value of participating. Call and then send a follow up email.  Treat constituency staff with great respect; consult with staff/MPP on potential site visits or areas of interest  Confirm date and time with MPP’s constituency office – Nursing Week (May 11- 17th) is ideal. If the Legislature is sitting, MPPs may only be available Fridays (May 15, 22, or 29th or from May 19 to May 21st when the Legislature is not sitting). Try to be flexible about dates (a visit sometime in May or even June is fine).  Provide agenda to MPP’s office prior to event  Send thank you letter to MPP following the event  Time frame: ideally two hours, minimum one  Information packages for MPPs can be assembled by Home hour but depends on MPP availability. Have a Office. Please contact Shelley Martel at [email protected]; or Develop the Plan B – MPPs can change their availability at call her at 416-408-5613 or 1-800-268-7199 x 214 if you have agenda for the last minute a request for materials. the visit  Scope of visit should be designed to maximize the experience and impact of site. Develop messages related to RN practice, how the RN impacts the community/patients – include positive points as well as identifying challenges.

 Patient-RN interaction may be part of the focus for the event. To ensure appropriate consents or permission are in place, you should discuss this with the site.

Media  Determine if event is open to the media (the site  Template media release relations and/or the MPP may or may not want publicity.  Model consent and release form Please inquire with the MPP about media being present.)  RNAO Chapter communication officers are available to assist with co-ordinating media advisories for the event  Sites may want to orchestrate media through their media or public relations departments www.RNAO.ca/MPP2015

Interest Group/Workplace Worksheet

Activity Insert Name Lead Member Insert Name Lead Member Insert Name Lead Member MPP(s)  Name  Parliamentary role(s)

MPP invitation  Letter sent  Participation confirmed

Details of visit  Location /Date//Time  Theme (optional)  Goals/Objectives Confirmation information forwarded to RNAO

Nurse(s) participating

Agenda  Developed and shared with staff  Copy sent to MPP’s office (on request) Third party consents  Request letter sent  Confirmation received

 Patient consents (as required)  Person responsible getting signed consents  Consents collected and filed Media

 Advisory issued  Reporters attending  Press release issued  Contact made with RNAO’s communications department

Photos

 Person responsible for taking photos  Submitted to RN Journal ([email protected])

www.RNAO.ca/MPP2015

Template MPP Invitation

[RNAO Logo? /Chapter/IG Logo?]

[Your address]

[Date]

[MPP Name, MPP] [Riding] [Constituency Address] [City, Postal Code]

Re: Take Your MPP to Work™ 2015

Dear Mr. or Ms. [Last Name of MPP if a Parliamentary Assistant or non Minister] or Dear Minister [if they are a Minister]

As [President/Political Executive Network Officer/RNAO Member] of the _____ Chapter of RNAO [or alternate wording], I am pleased to invite you to participate in the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario’s 15th Annual Take Your MPP to Work™ event. This initiative began in 2001 when the three political party leaders went to work with a registered nurse to see firsthand, the skills and expertise required to provide important health care services to Ontarians. Since that time, TYMTW™ has grown to become an annual, popular engagement activity for RNAO members and MPPs alike. Premiers, Cabinet Ministers, Opposition Leaders and many MPPs, have gone to work with registered nurses and nurse practitioners in hospitals, community health centres, family health teams, nurse practitioner-led clinics, long-term care homes, public health units, post-secondary institutions, and even street health settings. This on-the-job experience has given politicians a unique opportunity to better understand the breadth and depth of nursing practice and the challenges and opportunities of providing health care across diverse practice settings.

If you are able to participate, we would be pleased to arrange a site visit for you to {specific site already identified in riding or close to riding} or to health care setting in your riding during Nursing Week which runs from May 11th to May 17th this year. If that week does not meet your availability, we would be happy to work with your staff to determine another date and time which works.

We will be in touch with your office regarding this event and options for a site visit. However, you are welcome to contact [Name], [email] directly if you want to confirm your participation in our 15th Annual Take Your MPP to Work™ event and look at dates and times for a visit.

We look forward to the opportunity to showcase the vital role of nursing for you!

Warmest regards,

[Signature]

[First Name] [Last Name], [Credentials]*

cc: Shelley Martel, RNAO Home Office

www.RNAO.ca/MPP2015

Draft invitation letter to your organization’s Chief Nursing Officer

[Date]

[Organization address]

[RE: 15th Annual Take Your MPP to Work™ event}

Dear [insert name of Chief Nursing Officer],

This year, Nursing Week runs from May 11th to May 17th, 2015. This annual event marks the birthday of Florence Nightingale and is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the many contributions nurses make in our communities. Throughout this week, registered nurses (RNs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) will be honoured in a myriad of ways, illustrating the integral role nurses play in the delivery of health care in Ontario.

As part of Nursing Week celebrations in 2001, the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) initiated Take Your MPP to Work™. The three political party leaders went to work with a RN to see firsthand, the skills and expertise required to provide important health-care services to Ontarians. Since that time, TYMTW™ has grown to become an important annual political engagement event for RNAO members and MPPs alike. Premiers, Cabinet Ministers, Opposition Leaders and numerous MPPs, have gone to work with RNs and NPs in hospitals, community health centres, family health teams, nurse practitioner-led clinics, long-term care homes, public health units, post-secondary institutions, and even street health settings. This on-the-job experience has given politicians a unique opportunity to better understand the breadth and depth of nursing practice and the challenges and opportunities of providing health care across diverse practice settings.

This Nursing Week, we hope to invite [Insert name of MPP] to visit [Insert name of organization] on [Insert tentative date and time] and are requesting your permission to do so. Our hope is that this visit will provide [Insert name of MPP] with a window into the working world of nursing. Such a visit would also provide {name of organization} with an opportunity to showcase the integral role played by RNs and NPs in delivering important health care services in our community.

I [or name of another nurse or both names] look forward to your reply concerning this request. I can be contacted at [insert email or phone or both]. I am organizing this visit in consultation with RNAO. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Shelley Martel at [email protected]

I hope [Insert name of organization] will join with us and help [Insert name of MPP] to recognize the vital role of nursing in [insert name of organization] and the community.

Kind regards,

[Your name, credentials and position within RNAO and within the requested organization if any]

cc Contact person in your organization Your Chapter President Your RNAO Board Member Shelley Martel, RNAO, Home Office

www.RNAO.ca/MPP2015

Press Release Template

Local politician follows in registered nurses’ footsteps during Nursing Week 2015 (May 11-17th)

[Name of city/town, month, date, 2015] – Local nurses have invited [party] [MPP/MP] [full name of politician] to learn more about the successes and challenges of practising as a registered nurse (RN) or nurse practitioner (NP) in Ontario by touring [unit/facility] on [date of visit] as part of Nursing Week 2015 activities.

[MPP, last name] is one of many politicians across the province who is taking part in this Nursing Week tradition, which is part of the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario’s (RNAO) 15th annual Take Your MPP to Work™ event. This initiative encourages politicians to shadow nurses in order to better understand the role of RNs and NPs in Ontario’s health-care system.

Politicians including [MPP/MP, last name] will learn about the responsibilities nurses have in our communities, see how nurses use their knowledge and skills to better the health of the population, and observe RNs and NPs interactions with patients.

―Nurses have a critical role to play in disease prevention, health promotion and client-centred care,‖ says RNAO’s [chapter/interest group/region] [title] [name]. ―Take Your MPP to Work™ gives our political leaders a fantastic opportunity to experience and see, firsthand, the high-quality care RNs and NPs provide on a daily basis. It also helps to enhance their knowledge when it comes to the day-to-day workings of our health-care system.‖

WHAT: Take Your MPP to Work™ [Brief synopsis of what the politician will see/tour]

WHO: Full name of politician, [party affiliation] [MPP/MP], [name], [riding] Nurse(s) (provide full names and titles)

WHEN: Date Time

WHERE: Name of health-care organization Location of visit (including, if applicable, room name/number) Street address City/town, postal code Telephone number

The Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) is the professional association representing registered nurses in Ontario. Since 1925, RNAO has advocated for healthy public policy, promoted excellence in nursing practice, increased nurses’ contribution to shaping the health-care system, and influenced decisions that affect nurses and the public they serve. For more information about Take Your MPP to Work, please visit http://nursingweek.rnao.ca/. You can also check out our Facebook page at www.RNAO.ca/facebook and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RNAO.

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For more information, please contact: Name,* title on local executive, chapter/region/interest group, RNAO Telephone number (including area code); email address

*Note: this person must be available to answer media calls.

www.RNAO.ca/MPP2015

Thank-you letter template

[MPP address]

[Date]

Re: Take Your MPP Visit [Insert Date] at [Organization Name]

Dear [insert name MPP],

On behalf of the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO), I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for participating in our 15th Annual Take Your MPP to Work™ event! Thank you for celebrating the commitment and dedication of registered nurses (RNs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) towards building strong, healthy and vibrant communities. [You could include a sentence here about where they visited, what happened, and what they saw.]

As one of [number of] MPPs participating, from all parties and regions of Ontario, you were privy to a unique opportunity to look inside the working world of nursing and experience firsthand the breadth and depth of what RNs and NPs do. We hope this experience was positive and enlightening. We very much appreciate that you took time out of your busy schedule to meet with, listen to and learn about our profession and our essential role in the health-care system.

Thank you again for helping us to make RNAO’s 15th Annual Take Your MPP to Work™ an overwhelming success! We look forward to your participation again next year!

Kind regards,

[Your name, credentials and position within RNAO and within the requested organization if any]

cc Contact person in your organization Your Chapter President Your RNAO Board Member Shelley Martel, RNAO, Home Office

www.RNAO.ca/MPP2015

Social Media

Social media is frequently used to celebrate RNAO’s Take Your MPP to Work™. We encourage you to let us know if you will be hosting an event as we can tweet, post to Facebook and upload details to our RNAO Nursing Week website here: www.nursingweek.RNAO.ca

Before you consider using a social media component for your upcoming event, you must have permission from your host site and MPP that you can mention their participation to the public. RNAO can assist you with ensuring the highest standard of confidentiality and professionalism while using social media. This can include liaising with the MPP’s office and/or host site should they have any questions.

MPPs and host sites often welcome the use of RNAO Twitter, RNAO Facebook and our RNAO Nursing Week website as it informs their constituents and community that they have celebrated Nursing Week. It also allows them to share pictures and to celebrate the extraordinary work that nurses do in your community.

If you would like to include a social media component for your event for Nursing Week, please connect with Neil Halper (RNAO Web and Social Media Editor) at [email protected] or 416-599-1925 x 274.

Examples of Twitter use during nursing week (below)

Bill Walker, MPP ‏@billwalkermpp May 10

May 9 2013 Statement on RNAO Take Your MPP To

Work: http://youtu.be/Z_qrBPQEVFk?a via @YouTube

Catherine Fife ‏@CFifeKW May 10 Just one of the awesome nurses in Paediatric Oncology at GRH #ThankANurse #onpoli #ondp #KWAwesome pic.twitter.com/KvL8tWcfHw

www.RNAO.ca/MPP2015

Social Media Guidelines

Members hosting site visits which use social media on behalf of the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) are expected to adhere to:

 RNAO Code of Conduct . RNAO Confidentiality Obligations . The ―Terms of Use‖ of third party sites . The local legal and ethical regulations . The guidelines set forth in this document . Practice Standards as set out by the College of Nurses of Ontario

Use of Social Media

When posting information about Take Your MPP to Work™, please exercise good judgments at all times and do not:

. Use RNAO name in your identity . Disclose confidential or proprietary company information . Use intellectual property, logos, trademarks, and copyright

Disclaimer

If you decide to use any form of social media and make reference to RNAO, please use this disclaimer: ―Postings on this space belong to (enter name here) and only contain my personal positions, strategies and opinions. It is not endorsed by the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario nor does it constitute any official communication of the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario‖

Use on Behalf of RNAO

When you participate in social media on behalf of the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario, please be aware that you are representing the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario in the same way as you would in any other public forum. The Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario does not endorse or take responsibility for content posted by third parties.

Media Inquiries

Your contributions to social computing and online conversations might attract media attention. If a member of the media contacts you, simply notify:

Dan Punch, Communications Officer/Writer, RNAO Tel: 416-599-1925 / 1-800-268-7199, x 250 [email protected]

www.RNAO.ca/MPP2015

Take Your MPP to Work™ Event Sample Agenda

For MPP [NAME]’s tour of [FACILITY NAME] With RN [NAME] [DATE] from [TIMES]

1 HOUR VISIT

09:00 – 09:15

 Greet MPP at [LOCATION], go to meeting room  Official welcome by administrator and RN/RNAO Member  Introduction to facility  Have a brief round table discussion with RN participants o What is my role in the organization? Why do I like working here? o What are the challenges I face in my position? (―a day in the life of a nurse‖) o What are the challenges my workplace is facing? (―a day in the life of the facility‖) o How do these challenges affect patient care? (―a day in the life of a patient or client‖) o What could the Local Health Integration Networks, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) and MPPs do to improve on these challenges? o Describe some innovations and success stories from first -hand knowledge

09:15- 09:45

 Arrive on unit  Meet with front-line staff (inter-professional) on the unit to discuss program and their role  Focus on complexity of cases, scarcity of resources – challenges related to focus on medical model, clients who ―fall through cracks‖

09:45 – 10:00

 Brief walking tour of important features of facility  Opportunity for Media Questions  Official Thank you

www.RNAO.ca/MPP2015

Take Your MPP to Work™ Event Sample Agenda

For MPP [NAME]’s tour of [FACILITY NAME] With RN [NAME] [DATE] from [TIMES]

2 HOUR VISIT

09:00 – 09:15

 Greet MPP at [LOCATION], go to meeting room  Official welcome by administrator and RN/RNAO Member  Introduction to Facility  Have a short round table discussion with RN participants o What is my role in the organization? Why do I like working here? o What are the challenges I face in my position? (―a day in the life of a nurse‖) o What are the challenges my workplace is facing? (―a day in the life of the facility‖) o How do these challenges affect patient care? (―a day in the life of a patient or client‖) o What could the Local Health Integration Networks, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) and MPPs do to improve on these challenges? o Describe some innovations and success stories from first -hand knowledge 09:15- 10:00

10:15 – 10:45

 Brief walking tour of important features of facility  Opportunity for Media Questions  Official Thank you

10:45 – 11:00

 Refreshments  Informal discussion

www.RNAO.ca/MPP2015

Sample work plan (taken from a Brampton long-term care home site visit)

Take Your MPP to Work™ Event – Work plan

1. Promotion (Media and Advertising) a. Brampton Guardian - b. Streetsville Booster c. Posters in building 2. Invitations a. Confirm attendance with MPP b. All Nursing Staff by letter c. Medical Advisor d. RN – Educator – Head Office e. Case Manager LTC f. Peel Chapter President, RNAO 3. Handouts a. Prepare package for [name], MPP b. Prepare package for nurses 4. Refreshments a. Food Services preparing muffins, tea and coffee b. Bring plate of fruit 5. Program a. Refreshments b. Welcome – Administrator and RN /RNAO member c. Introduction to program – Resident and RN d. Round table discussion: 1. Why I like working in LTC at CPS 2. What makes CPS special 3. What are the challenges in my job 4. What could the Ministry of Health LTC change e. Tour - Administrator 6. Setting a. Recreation Room or patio b. Clean / tidy halls, and common rooms c. Parking space reservation

*RNAO thanks Chelsey Park Streetsville for allowing us to adapt and reproduce this document.

www.RNAO.ca/MPP2015

Taking Pictures at your Take Your MPP to Work™ event

 Ensure the MPP has consented to having pictures made public. Check with their assistant if any other approval is needed.

 If you are using clients in the picture, please ensure that you use your association consent form or use the template enclosed in this package. You also need to make sure that there are no patient signifiers in the pictures that you take (e.g. patient boards)

 Smile 

Helpful resources for your visit

To help you with your planning, you may be interested in reading and making the following materials available at your visit. You could include these materials in a folder to give to your MPP should you wish. You could also circulate these materials to your colleagues before the visit so that they aware of what RNAO information you will be giving your MPP.

1) Vision Document-Charting a Course for the Health System and Nursing in Ontario RNAO.CA/VISION

2) Queen’s Park Day 2015 Briefing Notes for Discussion with MPPs RNAO.CA/QPTOOLS2015

3) Nursing Workforce Backgrounder (November 2014) RNAO.CA/NURSINGWORKFORCE2014

For hard copies of these documents or other resources materials not included in this list, please email Shelley Martel at [email protected] or call her at 1-800-268-7199 x 214 or 416-408-5613.

You may also be interested in the copies of a past TYMTW™ media alert, workplace event advertisement, agenda and municipal proclamation of Nursing Week which follow.

www.RNAO.ca/MPP2015

Media Advisory: Local politician to learn about health care from registered nurses

OAKVILLE, June 4, 2014 – Local nurses have invited Kevin Flynn, Liberal candidate for Oakville, to learn more about the successes and challenges of practising as a nurse practitioner (NP) in Ontario.

Flynn is one of dozens of politicians across the province who will meet with nurses in order to better understand their role in Ontario's health-care system. He will learn about the responsibilities NPs have in our communities and the Nurse Practitioners' Association of Ontario's recent platform document Better Care. Better Value. A Plan from the Province's Nurse Practitioners for a Healthy Ontario. NPs are registered nurses with additional education and legislative authority.

For the past 14 years, the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) has invited politicians to go to work with nurses to celebrate National Nursing Week while getting a firsthand look at what it takes to be an RN or NP in Ontario, and what is needed to strengthen the health system.

RNAO’s Take Your MPP to Work event dates back to 2001, when the association invited all provincial party leaders to shadow an RN at work. It has since grown to a large province-wide initiative, which has drawn premiers, ministers of health, and politicians from all political parties and levels of government. Since this year’s event falls during an election, it has been expanded to include all political candidates throughout the campaign.

WHAT:

 Kevin Flynn, Liberal candidate for Oakville, will meet with nurse practitioner Patti Harbman to discuss the Nurse Practitioners' Association of Ontario's recent platform document Better Care. Better Value. A Plan from the Province's Nurse Practitioners for a Healthy Ontario.

WHEN:

 Thursday, June 5, 2014, 10 a.m.

WHERE:

 Kevin Flynn's campaign office (109 Lakeshore Road West, Oakville).

You can also check out RNAO’s Facebook page at www.RNAO.ca/facebook and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RNAO

-30- For more information, please contact:

Dan Punch, Communications Officer/Writer, RNAO Tel: 416-599-1925 / 1-800-268-7199, x 250 [email protected] www.RNAO.ca/MPP2015

Itinerary for Take Your MPP to Work™ Site Visit in 2014 –Ontario Early Years Centre

IF ELECTION CALLED: Date of Event will be Thursday May 15th 9 – 10:30 AM

9:00 A.M. Main Office Meet Bob Bailey (Conservative MPP) at St Philip Catholic School, 420 Queen Street, Petrolia

(outside of main office)

To cancel call St. Philip at 519-882-1520

Meeting will be Bob Bailey (MPP Lambton), Charlene McMahon (Manager, Family Health, Lambton Public Health), and Kathy McCallum (Petrolia District Public Health Nurse, Lambton Public Health)

Contact Information for Charlene McMahon:

Cell: 519-381-5880

Email: [email protected]

9:00 A.M. TO 9:15 A.M. Introductions to staff at Ontario Early Years Centre, St. Philip Catholic School, Petrolia

9:15 A.M. - 10:15 A.M. Discussion re: Services provided for families by PHN Observation of Actual Parent Drop-In

10:15 A.M. Pictures of Visit with MP Bob Bailey and Kathy McCallum Public Health Nurse

IF NO ELECTION CALLED: Date of Event will be Friday May 16th 9 - 1 0: 3 0 A M

Same itinerary as above except that it will not be an Actual Parent Drop-In but will be a staged drop-in with a pre-arranged client

*RNAO thanks Charlene McMahon for allowing us to adapt and reproduce this document.

www.RNAO.ca/MPP2015

Municipal Nursing Week Proclamation